Concrete finishing machines

ABSTRACT

A concrete finishing machine movable longitudinally of a road and having a pair of oppositely reciprocating finishing members movable transversely back and forth across the road.

United States Patent Inventors Murray A. Rowe;

John E. Kessel; Burnham C. Loveland, all of Canton, S. Dak. 853,177 Aug. 26, 1969 July 20, 1971 K 8: R Industries, Inc.

Canton, S. Dak.

App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINES 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

us. CI 94/45 rm. Cl E0lc 19/22 Field of Search 94/4s,44,

(5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,467,243 9/ l 923 Fitzgerald 94/45 2,603,132 7/1952 Miller 94/45 2,754,732 7/1956 Beyer 94/45 3,147,678 9/ l 964 Lewis 94/45 3,208,361 9/1965 Bidweil 94/45 3 ,256,788 6/1966 Schweihofer 94/45 3,368,466 2/ 1968 Rowe 94/45 3,452,654 7/1969 Kessel 94/45 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, .Ir. Anomey-Johnston, Root, O'Keefie, Keil, Thompson and Shurtleff CT: A concrete finishing machine movable longitudinally of a road and having a pair of oppositely reciprocating finishing members movable transversely back and forth across the road.

PATENTED JULZO I971 SHEET 1 OF 2 I i. k 3?? mv mm 1 M w z m f A FFhLw m ma a M 3 I- w W 5 W F mm vm v R B 0 mm, MM. @V K .1

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m. mm Wm. M. a m w% v W v w mm m, v n mm m a Q aw mm m \h j m u n mm mm mm v Q .mn Wm m vm Qm .mm mm CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to concrete finishing machines and, more particularly, to concrete finishing machines which are particularly well adapted for use on roadways, and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel concrete finishing machine.

Another object is to afford a novel concrete surfacing unit for use in concrete finishing machines, and the like.

Concrete finishing machines of the general type to which the present invention pertains have been heretofore known in the art, such as, for example, machines of the type shown in S. P. Bidwell U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,208,36l, issued Sept. 28, 1965. It is an important object of the present invention to afford improvements over such machines heretofore known in the art.

In the operation of concrete finishing machines of the general type to which the present invention pertains, which have been heretofore known in the art, a concrete finishing member in the form of a strike'off member or a float member has commonly been moved back and forth across the width of a road, or the like, in concrete-smoothing passes, with the machine being advanced between passes longitudinally of the road in a direction to engage the finishing member with a new supply of concrete to be spread or smoothed. Such finishing members oftentimes are of substantial length, commonly having a length of ten feet or more. They are commonly longitudinally reciprocated in concrete-finishing strokes during such movement back and forth across the roadway. Such concrete finishing machines heretofore known in the art have commonly had several inherent disadvantages, such as, for example, that the inertia forces set up by the reciprocation of the concrete finishing member caused undesired, excessive vibrations; that the inertia forces caused by the reciprocation of the finishing members caused the finishing members to tend to rear upwardly; or that the machines did not afford a smooth, finished surface on the concrete being spread and smoothed, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize vibrations in a concrete finishing machine in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object is to afford a novel concrete finishing machine which embodies two finishing members which reciprocate in opposite directions to each other during operation of the machine.

A further object is to afford a novel concrete finishing machine which is practical and efficient in operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention ernbodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. II is a cross section of a roadway showing a concrete finishing machine, embodying the principles of the present invention, in side elevation and disposed in operative position over the roadway;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a portion of the concrete finishing machine shown in FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the portion of the machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN A concrete finishing machine I, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. The machine I is shown in FIG. I disposed in operative position above a section 2 of a concrete roadway.

The machine 1 to which the present invention is applied is described in greater detail in the aforementioned Bidwell patent, but for the present purposes it will be sufficient to point out that it includes an elongated trusswork 3, which is adapted to extend transversely of the roadway 2 being finished, and is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the roadway in a direction transverse to the length of the trusswork by any suitable means either mechanically or by hand.

In the arrangement of the machine I shown in FIG. I, vertical supports 4 are positioned on opposite sides of the roadway 2 and extend lengthwise thereof, the upper edges of the supports 4 being adapted to receive rollers 5 on the trusswork 3 to enable the trusswork 3 to be moved along the supports 4.

A surfacing unit 6 is mounted on and is suspended from the trusswork 3, FIG. 1. The surfacing unit 6, FIGS. I and 4, includes a carriage 7 and two elongated concrete finishing members h and 9 mounted on the carriage 7, the finishing members and 9 being reciprocable relative to the carriage 7 as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The carriage 7 includes two outer side rails I0 and II, disposed in horizontally spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other, and two parallel end rails 12 and I3 extending between and connected to respective opposite ends of the side rails Ill and 1111, FIG. I. Preferably, the rails 10-13 are disposed in uniplanar relation to each other.

Two end plates I4 and 15 extend between and are mounted on respective opposite ends of the side rails 10 and II, outwardly of the end rails 12 and 13, respectively, FIG. 4. Each of the end plates I4 and has a plurality of outwardly projecting, horizontally spaced upper rollers I6 mounted thereon. The rollers to are so disposed on the end plates 14 and 15 that, when the concrete finishing machine I is in completely assembled fon'n, as shown in FIG. I, rollers 16 on the end plates 14 and I5 are disposed in position to be supported by, and ride along, the inner flanges I7 of channel-shaped side rails I8 and 19, FIG. 3, disposed on opposite sides of the trusswork 3, to thereby support the carriage 7 for movement longitudinally of the trusswork 3.

Each of the end plates I4 and 15 of the carriage 7 also has a plurality of outwardly projecting hold-down rollers 20 disposed below respective ones of the upper rollers 16 in vertically spaced relation thereto. The rollers 20 are so disposed on the end plates I4 and I5 that when the carriage 7 is supported on the side rails IS and 119 of the trusswork 3 by the rollers 16, in the aforementioned manner, the rollers 20 on the end plates I4 and I5 are disposed in abutting engagement with the lower faces of the webs of the side rails Id and 19, respectively, in position to hold the rollers 16 downwardly against the flanges I7 thereof.

The carriage 7 is essentially rectangular in shape, and embodies two comer posts 21 and 22 connected to and extending substantially vertically downwardly from respective ends of the side rail III), and two corner posts 23 and 24 connected to and extending substantially vertically downwardly from respective ends of the side rail I I, FIG. 4. A lower side rail 25 extends between and is connected to the lower end portions of the corner posts 211 and 22, and another lower side rail 26 extends between and is connected to the lower end portions of the comer posts 23 and 24. The side rails 25 and 26 are disposed in horizontally spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other, and in substantially vertically spaced, parallel relation to the upper side rails and 11, respectively.

Two end rails 27 and 28 extend between the lower end portion of the comer posts 21 and 23 and the corner posts 22 and 24, respectively, in parallel relation to each other. An intermediate rail 29 is disposed between and connected to the end rails 27 and 28 midway between the lower side rails 25 and 26, and in substantially parallel relation to the latter. The rails 25, 26 and 29, preferably, are square in transverse cross section, FIG. 5.

Four hangers 30, 31, 32 and 33, FIG. 4, are mounted on the carriage 7 for supporting the finishing members 8 and 9, as will be discussed in greater detail presently. The hangers 30 and 33 are identical in construction, and each includes an elongated, substantially rectangular shaped head portion 34 and a substantially rectangular shaped body portion 35 depending from the respective head portion 34. Similarly, the hangers 31 and 32 are identical in construction, and each includes a substantially square shaped head portion 36 and a substantially square shaped body portion 37 depending from the respective head portion 36.

It will be remembered that the rails 25, 26 and 29 in the preferred form of the carriage 7 shown in the drawings are square in transverse cross section. The head portions 36 of the hangers 31 and 32 are tubular in construction and have an internal cross-sectional size and shape complementary to the outside of the rails 25, 26 and 29. They are mounted on the rails 25 and 26, respectively, with a relatively snug, but freely slidable fit.

The head portions 34 of the hangers 30 and 33 also are tubular in construction, each having a rectangular internal cross-sectional shape. The head portion 34 of the hanger 30 is disposed on the two rails 25 and 29, in spanning relation thereto, with a relatively snug, but freely slidable fit, and the head portion 34 of the hanger 33 is similarly mounted on the rails 26 and 29. Preferably, the head portions 34 are of such length that when they are disposed in operative position on the respective pairs of the rails 25, 26 and 29 the end walls 340 and 34b of the respective head portions 34 snugly engage the respective pair of rails so as to firmly hold the hanger against movement transversely to the pair of rails, as illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to the hanger 33. The head portions 34 and 36 may be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, steel.

The body portions 35 and 37 of the hangers 30 and 33, and 31 and 32, respectively, may also be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, steel. If desired, they may be made in the form of solid block members. However, in the interest of avoiding unnecessary weight, it is preferred to construct the body portions 35 and 37 in hollow form, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The body portions 35 and 37 may be secured to the respective head portions 34 and 36 in depending relation thereto by any suitable means such as, for example, by weldmg.

The lower ends of the body portions 35 and 37 of the hangers 30 and 31 are secured to the upper face of the finishing member 8 by any suitable means such as, for example, welding. Similarly, the lower ends of the body portions 37 and 35 of the hangers 32 and 33 are secured to the upper face of the finishing member 9 by any suitable means such as, for example, welding. With the finishing members 8 and 9 thus supported from the rails 25, 26 and 29 of the carriage 7 by the hangers 30--33, it will be seen that they are disposed in downwardly spaced relation to the rails 25, 26 and 29 and are slidable longitudinally thereof.

A motor 38 having a base 39 is mounted on and secured to the upper face of the rails 25, 26 and 29 between the hangers 30 and 32 and the hangers 31 and 33, FIG. 4. Preferably, a reduction gear unit 40 is operatively connected to the drive shaft 41 of the motor 38 and is driven thereby. Two drive shafts 42 and 43 extend outwardly in opposite directions from the reduction gear unit 40, beyond the rails 25 and 26, respectively. Two cranks 44 and 45 are mounted on the outer ends of the drive shafts 42 and 43, respectively, for rotation therewith. A link 46 has one end pivotally connected to the crank 44, and the other end pivotally connected to a bracket 47 projecting upwardly from the upper face of the finishing member 8, FIG. 4. Similarly, a link 48, FIGS. 3 and 4, has one end pivotally connected to the crank 45 and the other end pivotally connected to a bracket 49 projecting upwardly from the upper face of the finishing member 9.

With this construction, upon energization of the motor 38,

to thereby rotate the drive shafts 42 and 43 through the drive shaft 41 and the gear reduction unit 40, the cranks 44 and 45, through their connections with the finishing members 8 and 9 by the links 46 and 48, respectively, are operable to reciprocate the finishing members 8 and 9 along the rails 25 and 29 and the rails 26 and 29, respectively. Preferably, the cranks 44 and 45 project from the drive shaft 43 in opposite directions to each other. With this arrangement of the cranks 44 and 45 and the links 46 and 48, energization of the motor 38 is effective to reciprocate the finishing members 8 and 9 in opposite directions relative to each other.

Finishing members, such as the finishing members 8 and 9, may be in the form of various types of units, such as, for example, bull floats, strike-offs, and the like. They are often relatively large in size and commonly are of relatively great length, such as, for example, in the order of 10 feet or more. In machines heretofore known in the art, wherein only a single finishing member is longitudinally reciprocated, the inertia forces created by such reciprocation commonly resulted in undesirable vibration. Such vibration, of course is undesirable for several reasons, one being that, in some instances, the vibrations cause the finishing member to raise and lower a sufficient amount that the quality of the concrete-smoothing operation thereof is adversely affected. With the machine 1 constructed in the manner disclosed herein, the counterreciprocation of the finishing members 8 and 9 is effective to eliminate many such vibrations.

Like the surfacing unit in the aforementioned Bidwell patent, the surfacing unit 6 is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the trusswork 3, transversely of the road surface 2, by means of chains 50, which are driven by a power unit 51, such operation being discussed in greater detail in the Bidwell patent.

The trusswork 3 is capable of being adjusted vertically with respect to the roadway 2 by means which include vertically extending rods 52 mounted in tubular members 53 and arranged to be raised and lowered by rotation of cranks 54, FIG. 1, the rollers 5 being rotatably mounted on the lower ends of the respective rods 52.

In order to accommodate the movement of the surfacing unit 6 to the desired slope of the concrete surface 2, the trusswork 3 is hinged intermediate the ends thereof as at 55. Raising and lowering of the trusswork 3 at the center thereof is then accomplished by an adjusting assembly which includes bars 56 mounted on the trusswork 3 and through which extend a threaded rod 57. Nuts 58 engage the threaded rod 57 on opposite sides of the bars 56 so that proper adjustment thereof will change the angular pitch of the trusswork 3 at either side of the center thereof, all as more specifically described in the aforementioned Bidwell patent. Further adjustment of the trusswork 3 to achieve variations in the road contour, may be made by use of the adjusting means 59.

In the operation of the concrete finishing machine 1, after it has been adjusted to proper operative position over the roadway 2, the power unit 51 may be energized to thereby move the chains 50 and cause the surfacing unit 6 to move longitudinally of the rails 18 and 19, transversely to the roadway 2. Such movement of the surfacing unit 6 is effective to move the finishing members 8 and 9 in a direction transverse to their length to thereby level off and smooth the concrete engaged by the leading edges thereof. During this movement of the finishing members 8 and 9, the motor 38 may be energized to thereby cause the finishing members 8 and 9 to reciprocate longitudinally, in opposite directions to each other, along the rails 25, 26 and 29, and thus effect the desired finishing or floating action ofthe finishing members 8 and 9.

When the surfacing unit 6 reaches the longitudinal edge of the roadway surface 2 toward which it is moving, the power unit 51 and the motor 38 may be deenergized, the trusswork 3 may then be moved longitudinally forwardly along the roadway 2 and the power unit 51 may again be energized, but in the reverse direction, to move the surfacing unit in the reverse direction across the roadway 2, the motor 38 again being energized during this movement of the surfacing unit 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel concrete finishing machine wherein finishing members are constituted and arranged, and are operated, in a novel and expeditious manner.

in addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel concrete finishing machine which embodies counter reciprocating finishing members constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

in addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel concrete finishing machine which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

I. A concrete finishing machine comprising a. an elongated trusswork adapted to travel in a direction transverse to the length thereof,

b. a surfacing unit comprising 1. supporting means mounted on said trusswork for movement longitudinally thereof,

2. two elongated finishing members mounted on and carried by said supporting means for movement therewith longitudinally of said trusswork in a direction transverse to the length of said finishing member,

3. said finishing members being disposed on said support ing means in parallel relation to each other,

4. means mounted on said supporting means and operatively connected to said finishing members for longitudinally reciprocating said finishing members on said supporting means in opposite directions relative to each other,

c. said supporting means comprising a carriage suspended from said trusswork,

d. said finishing members being slidably mounted on and suspended from said carriage for reciprocation relative thereto during such reciprocation relative to each other,

c. said carriage including a plurality of substantially horizontally extending elongated rails disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other, and

f. hangers mounted on said finishing members and operatively connected to said rails and slidably supporting said finishing members from said rails for reciprocation therealong,

g. said means for reciprocating said finishing members comprising l. a motor mounted on said rails, and

2. two cranks projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said motor and operatively connected to said motor and to respective ones of said finishing members for reciprocating said finishing members upon energization of said motor.

2. In a concrete finishing machine embodying an elongated trusswork for transversely spanning an elongated layer of concrete, and means on opposite sides of said layer for supporting said trusswork at opposite ends thereof for movement of said trusswork longitudinally of said layer in a direction transverse to the length of said trusswork,

a. two elongated finishin members, b. means supporting sal finishing members In substantially horizontal uniplanar parallel relation to each other for movement longitudinally of said trusswork in a direction transverse to the length of said finishing members, and 0. means operatively connected to said finishing members for reciprocating them longitudinally relative to each other during such movement of said finishing members along said trusswork, d. said means supporting said finishing members comprising 1. a carriage including three elongated substantially parallel horizontally extending rails, and

2. means operatively connected to said finishing members and supporting said members from said rails in underlying relation thereto for sliding; movement therealong, and e. said means for reciprocating said finishing members comprising a motor mounted on said rails and operatively connected to said members. 3. In a concrete finishing machine embodying an elongated trusswork for transversely spanning an elongated layer of concrete, and means on opposite sides of said layer for supporting said trusswork at opposite ends thereof for movement of said trusswork longitudinally of said layer in a direction transverse to the length of said trusswork, a. two elongated finishing members, b. means supporting said finishing members in substantially horizontally uniplanar parallel relation to each other for movement longitudinally of said trusswork in a direction transverse to the length of said finishing members, and 0. means operatively connected to said finishing members for reciprocating them longitudinally relative to each other during such movement of said finishing members along said trusswork, (1. said means supporting said finishing members comprising 1. a carriage having a plurality of elongated substantially horizontally extending rails, and

2. means operatively connected to said finishing members and supporting said finishing members from said rails for sliding movement therealong, and

e. said means for reciprocating said finishing members comprising l. a motor mounted on said rails, and 2. two crank means operatively connected to said motor and to respective ones of said finishing members, and

f. said crank means being connected to said finishing members outwardly of said rails. 

1. A concrete finishing machine comprising a. an elongated trusswork adapted to travel in a direction transverse to the length thereof, b. a surfacing unit comprising
 1. supporting means mounted on said trusswork for movement longitudinally thereof,
 2. two elongated finishing members mounted on and carried by said supporting means for movement therewith longitudinally of said trusswork in a direction transverse to the length of said finishing member,
 3. said finishing members being disposed on said supporting means in parallel relation to each other,
 4. means mounted on said supporting means and operatively connected to said finishing members for longitudinally reciprocating said finishing members on said supporting means in opposite directions relative to each other, c. said supporting means comprising a carriage suspended from said trusswork, d. said finishing members being slidably mounted on and suspended from said carriage for reciprocation relative thereto during such reciprocation relative to each other, e. said carriage including a plurality of substantially horizontally extending elongated rails disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other, and f. hangers mounted on said finishing members and operatively connected to said rails and slidably supporting said finishing members from said rails for reciprocation therealong, g. said means for reciprocating said finishing members comprising
 1. a motor mounted on said rails, and
 2. two cranks projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said motor and operatively connected to said motor and to respective ones of said finishing members for reciprocating said finishing members upon energization of said motor.
 2. means operatively connected to said finishing members and supporting said members from said rails in underlying relation thereto for sliding movement therealong, and e. said means for reciprocating said finishing members comprising a motor mounted on said rails and operatively connected to said members.
 2. In a concrete finishing machine embodying an elongated trusswork for transversely spanning an elongated layer of concrete, and means on opposite sides of said layer for supporting said trusswork at opposite ends thereof for movement of said trusswork longitudinally of said layer in a direction transverse to the length of said trusswork, a. two elongated finishing members, b. means supporting said finishing members in substantially horizontal uniplanar parallel relation to each other for movement longitudinally of said trusswork in a direction transverse to the length of said finishing members, and c. means operatively connected to said finishing members for reciprocating them longitudinally relative to each other during such movement of said finishing members along said trusswork, d. said means supporting said finishing members comprising
 2. two cranks projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said motor and operatively connected to said motor and to respective ones of said finishing members for reciprocating said finishing members upon energization of said motor.
 2. two crank means operatively connected to said motor and to respective ones of said finishing members, and f. said crank means being connected to said finishing members outwardly of said rails.
 2. means operatively connected to said finishing members and supporting said finishing members from said rails for sliding movement therealong, and e. said means for reciprocating said finishing members comprising
 2. two elongated finishing members mounted on and carried by said supporting means for movement therewith longitudinally of said trusswork in a direction transverse to the length of said finishing member,
 3. said finishing members being disposed on said supporting means in parallel relation to each other,
 3. In a concrete finishing machine embodying an elongated trusswork for transversely spanning an elongated layer of concrete, and means on opposite sides of said layer for supporting said trusswork at opposite ends thereof for movement of said trusswork longitudinally of said layer in a direction transverse to the length of said trusswork, a. two elongated finishing members, b. means supporting said finishing members in substantially horizontally uniplanar parallel relation to each other for movement longitudinally of said trusswork in a direction transverse to the length of said finishing members, and c. means operatively connected to said finishing members for reciprocating them longitudinally relative to each other during such movement of said finishing members along said trusswork, d. said means supporting said finishing members comprising
 4. means mounted on said supporting means and operatively connected to said finishing members for longitudinally reciprocating said finishing members on said supporting means in opposite directions relative to each other, c. said supporting means comprising a carriage suspended from said trusswork, d. said finishing members being slidably mounted on and suspended from said carriage for reciprocation relative thereto during such reciprocation relative to each other, e. said carriage including a plurality of substantially horizontally extending elongated rails disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other, and f. hangers mounted on said finishing members and operatively connected to said rails and slidably supporting said finishing members from said rails for reciprocation therealong, g. said means for reciprocating said finishing members comprising 